Willow Trees: A Natural Solution for Lamb Health

Every shepherd knows the challenge: you’ve done everything right, yet some lambs still fall behind. They’re eating, they’re moving, but something’s missing. Often, the culprit is a quiet one—trace mineral deficiencies like cobalt that slow down growth and weaken overall health.

Traditionally, we reach for bagged supplements, mineral blocks, or drenches. They have their place, but they’re far from perfect—blocks dissolve in the rain, supplements get wasted, and when you’re rotating sheep across paddocks it’s hard to guarantee each animal gets enough.

That’s why a video I came across from England caught my attention. It highlighted an approach that’s as old as farming itself but often overlooked: the use of willow trees in pasture systems.

Willow does more than offer shade—it has a knack for drawing minerals from deep in the soil and storing them in its leaves and twigs. When sheep nibble on willow, they get access to those minerals naturally. For lambs struggling with deficiencies, this can mean the difference between sluggish growth and hitting market weight on time.

Here are a few of the other benefits willow provides:

• Shelter and shade – easing heat stress in summer and giving cover in rough weather.

• A natural fodder source – sheep enjoy browsing willow, which adds variety and nutrition to their diet.

• Sustainable nutrition – reducing reliance on purchased supplements while keeping nutrients cycling on the farm.

Put simply, willow trees bring together the best of agroforestry and livestock management—supporting healthier flocks while strengthening the farm system as a whole.

For producers hoping to cut costs, improve animal health, and farm more sustainably, weaving willow into the pasture may be a smart move. It’s certainly something I plan to explore more on my own farm, and I’ll share updates as I dig deeper into this practice.

👉 Have you ever tried using willow (or other fodder trees) with your livestock? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below. And if you’re curious to follow along as I test this out on my own farm, stick around—I’ll be sharing updates along the way.